Gate-latch



(No Model.)

A. E. JESTER.

GATE LATGH. Q N0. 349,350. Patented Sept. 21, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

ANDREW EDMON JESTER, OF JESTER, TENNESSEE.

GATE-LATCH.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,350, dated September 21, 1886.

Applicationliled August 9, 1586. Serial No. 210,436. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW EDMON JEs'rnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jester, in the county of Chester and State oflennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marke'd thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to fastening devices for gates, and is designed most particularly for that class which close automatically when opened in either direction, and has for its object the construction of a simple, cheap, and durable latch or fastening which will be economical in manufacture, simple, effective, easily operated either by hand or foot, and not liable to get out of repair.

The improvement consists in the simple and novel construction more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In thedrawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a gate and its posts with the latch applied thereto; Fig. 2, a partial section on the line X X; Fig. 3, a section on the line Y Y.

The gate A is supported between the posts B B in any known way, so as to open in either direction. It is hinged to the post B in such manner that it will close automatically by gravitating, preferably by the means shown in an application filed by me simultaneously with this. To the side of the post B adjacent the end batten of the gate is secured a stop,

0. It consists, preferably, of a strip of metal bent approximately U -shaped, and having flanges c, by which it maybe secured to the post. These flanges may project in or out, and is a matter of convenience. However, it is preferred to have them extend in toward each other, as shown, as thereby a smooth unbroken outline is preserved. The stop may be of any desired configuration other than that shown, and I do not wish to confine myself or be limited to such. I

The vgate is provided with an oscillating latch, D, which consists of a plate or casting, d, pivoted between its ends, and provided with arms d, to embrace the sides of the stop and place on said shaft by a set-screw, 6.

hold the gate closed. It is located near one end of the stop, so it may be readily disen gaged by partially rotating it, which will free one of the arms and permit the gate to be opened, which when closing will cause the arm opposite to that previously released to engage with a side of the stop and rotate the latch and bring the arm previously disengaged into its first position, or engagement with the stop on a side opposite to that struck by the arm of the latch. A shaft, E, mounted horizontally in the gate batten and bracket secured to one, of the pickets, has the latch mounted on its outer end, and a cross-bar, E, on its inner end, which is adjustably held in By removing the set-screw the cross-bar may be removed together with. the latch and shaft. The cross-bar extends in the same horizontal plane as the latch when the gate is closed, and may be grasped and used as a means for rotating the shaft and disengaging the latch. For greater convenience operating-rods F are pivotally attached to the ends of the cross-bar, and extend downward within convenient reach of the feet, and terminate in outwardly-curved and flattened or expanded ends f, which afford a purchase for the feet. The rods are held from swinging about by keepers g. Their upper ends curve inward sufficiently far to permit a quarter-revolution of the shaft and latch in each direction from a horizontal. position. By this means the latch is prevented from turning too far. In the operation of the latch the rods come in contact with the shaft, thereby limiting the movement, as and for the purpose just stated.

The operation of the device can be readily understood from the foregoing, reference being had to the drawings; but it may be well to observe that the latch can be rotated by simply pressing down upon one of the arms equally as well as by pressing with the feet upon the pedals or curved eudsf of the ope'rating-rods. The disposition of the latch relative to the end of the stop is immaterial, so longas it is close to the end. It is preferable to have the corners about which the arms of 100 the latch work slightly rounded, to prevent binding and give a greater movement. It is also preferable to have the latch work about the closed end of the stop, as thereby it is prevented from getting between the two limbs in case said stop he made of flat metal and bent as shown.

The parts may be reversed without departing from the spirit of my invention. The stop may be applied to the gate and the pivoted latch to the post; but sneh eonstrnetion is not desirable.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to seen re by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, with the post and gate, of a stop secured to the one and proieeting some distanee t'roln its thee. and an oseillating latch seeured t0 the other, eomposed of a baseplate having arms extended from eaeh end at right angles thereto and parallel with the axis of the lateh for engaging the sides of the stop, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the post and gate, of the stop eonsisting ot' a strip ot' metal bent approximately U shape, and having flanges proieeting from its edges, and the oseillating latch eomposed ot' a base-plate having arms projected from eaeh end at right angles thereto and parallel with the axis ot the latch, and adapted to embraee the sides of the stop, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the post and gate, ot the stop, the oscillating shaft, the latch secured to its outer end, the short er0ss-bar seeured to the inner end, and the operating-rods attaehed t0 eaeh end of said bar and extended within eonvenient reaeh of the t'eet, substan tially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, with the stop and. the shalt having the lateh on one end and theerossbar on the other, of the operating-rods seeured to the ends otthe eross-bar. and eurved inward at their upper endsand outward at their lower ends, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I at'tix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\Vit nesses:

( R. Smnnox, HL'HII lloss. 

